Have you decided to just face the fact that
your skin is a disaster? Has what tan you managed to get this
summer gone and have the winds of fall turned your legs into tree
bark? Do not lose hope. Try assembling a few ingredients from your
cupboard to make polishing, exfoliating, moisturizing body scrubs.
Then you can pamper your skin and get ready to face the holidays
refreshed and gleaming.

Salt and sugar scrubs use commonly available ingredients and the
recipes lend themselves to improvisation. Try using food- grade
oils such as almond (also known as sweet almond), hazelnut, sesame,
jojoba, or a blend of castor and apricot. Look around for other
interesting oils from on-line suppliers such as those listed in the
“Sources” box on page 58. Feel free to substitute other essential
oils or essential oil blends that you have on hand. Make sure not
to use more than twelve drops of essential oil per ounce of
vegetable oil and no more than five essential oils in your
blend.

After you make the scrub, store the unused portion in a glass
jar in the refrigerator. There are no preservatives in these
scrubs, so keep them dry and keep your fingers out of the
containers. When I’m cold, I like to warm the scrub for 20 or 30
seconds in the microwave. But it is also quite refreshing to pull
your scrub from the refrigerator and use it chilled if you’re hot
and grubby. Don’t scrub more often than once a week—that’s just too
much of a good thing. Too much exfoliation (mildly abrasive removal
of the layer of dead skin cells) may cause irritation and stinging.
It may also stimulate oil-secreting cells that make your skin more
oily. Sometimes I only have time to scrub my feet or hands, and
that’s fine. Pampering is always good for your body and your
soul.

Recipes

Moon Glow Salt Scrub

Makes 5 oz.

The essential oils and herbs in this scrub were chosen to help
ease the symptoms of PMS. The scrub leaves your skin “very soft and
well moisturized,” according to our testers.

Carefully measure all of the ingredients into a clean glass
bowl. Mix together well. Spoon into a clean glass jar and allow to
age for 2 days. Store in the refrigerator. Follow the use
directions below.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

With a clean spoon, scoop out a couple of tablespoons worth of
scrub and put in a plastic container. (You don’t want glass or
pottery to break in the bathroom.) Scrubs will keep for at least a
month in a cool, dark location and indefinitely in the
refrigerator. The only thing that will make them spoil quickly is
if they get water or any bacteria from your hands in them.

Create an “I am pampered” environment in the bathroom with
candles and music or just a big, fluffy towel. You can scrub before
you shower or after. Scoop a bit out with a spoon onto your
fingertips and make gentle circles on your skin. Work toward the
heart to encourage circulation. Don’t rub too hard—your skin is
delicate. Just remember that the floor of your shower may be oily
and slippery, so be careful. I like to put an old towel over the
non-skid bath mat, scrub myself, then shower off. The towel can
then be thrown into the washer.

Aegean Breeze Scrub

Makes 8 oz.

Like the herbal breeze over the Mediterranean hills, these herbs
and essential oils are said to increase a sense of balance and
boost energy. This scrub is wonderful for those crazy times when
you feel like there needs to be three of you to get everything
done.

Carefully measure all of the ingredients into a clean glass
bowl. Mix together well. Spoon into a clean glass jar and allow to
age for 2 days. Store in the refrigerator. Follow the use
directions at left.

Sugar & Spice Scrub

Makes 7 oz.

Our testers found this one to be “just right” and the “best one
yet!” Use this scrub if you tend to knick your legs during
shaving—it’s non-stinging. The essential oil blend in this scrub is
made up of oils reputed to be aphrodisiacs.

Carefully measure all of the ingredients into a clean glass
bowl. Mix together well. Spoon into a clean glass jar and allow to
age for 2 days. Follow the use directions on page 57.

Sheron Buchele has been growing herbs for more than thirty years
and carries more than fifty herb-based products for Fox Ryde
Gardens. She and her husband, Curtis Rowland, sell their wares at
farmers’ markets and craft fairs in Northern Colorado, and on-line
at www.foxryde.com.

Welcome to Mother Earth Living, the authority on green lifestyle and design. Each issue of Mother Earth Living features advice to create naturally healthy and nontoxic homes for yourself and your loved ones. With Mother Earth Living by your side, you’ll discover all the best and latest information you want on choosing natural remedies and practicing preventive medicine; cooking with a nutritious and whole-food focus; creating a nontoxic home; and gardening for food, wellness and enjoyment. Subscribe to Mother Earth Living today to get inspired on the art of living wisely and living well.

Save Money & a Few Trees!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You’ll save an additional $5 and get six issues of Mother Earth Living for just $14.95! (Offer valid only in the U.S.)